The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C), National Cyber Security Division (NCSD), is seeking information on prospective technical, end-to-end solutions for protecting the federal “.gov” cyber domain. The National Cybersecurity Protection System (NCPS) is an integrated system of hardware and software that provides the capability to perform the DHS mission of defending, protecting, and reducing the vulnerability of the Federal Executive Branch’s civilian networks and associated responsibilities by addressing requirements in the following mission areas: Alert, Warning and Analysis – Compile and analyze information about cyber security and inform Federal, state, and local government agencies, private sector partners, infrastructure owners and operators, and the public about current and potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. Coordination and Collaboration - Foster information sharing of cyber activity data, coordinate alerts and warnings, and communicate mitigation strategies with mission partners and other external entities. - Coordinate efforts among Government organizations (as well as asset owners, operators, and vendors) to address the risk associated with control systems applications. - Collaborate with public and private entities to manage risk and enhance information sharing across the information technology (IT) sector to promote overall security and resilience for the sector. Response and Assistance - Perform a vulnerability analysis in support of Federal Executive Branch organizations. - Provide timely threat, attack, and vulnerability information, technical expertise, detection and mitigation assistance, staffing support, and other types of response activities in response to routine, critical, and national-level cyber activity. - Play a critical role in infrastructure protection by aiding national recovery efforts for the nation’s cyber infrastructure. - Improve the security of critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) cyber infrastructure through information sharing and by providing cyber guidance and methodologies. - Develop policies and procedures that will allow for an enforcement and compliance mechanism to be put in place to secure the Federal Executive Branch’s civilian networks. Protect and Detect - Coordinate security for the Federal Government’s Internet point of presence (POP) [Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) Initiative]. - Analyze network traffic to identify emerging threats, detect cyber threats using traffic flow analysis, intrusion detection tools, commercial vulnerability data feeds, and open-source mechanisms. - Improve information system security effectiveness and consistency in Federal Executive Branch’s civilian networks by identifying common security needs and enabling enterprise-wide implementation and sustainment of standard security products and services. - Improve the nation’s cybersecurity readiness, protection, and incident response capabilities by creating, sponsoring, and learning from national, regional, interagency, and international exercises and workshops. Interested vendors must register at https://www.dhscyber.net no later than July 22, 2009 in order to be considered for access to the classified Request for Information (RFI). Access to the RFI will only be provided to registrants whose security clearances can be validated at the proper level. However, vendor information for those registrants who do not currently possess an active security clearance or whose clearance cannot be validated at the level of the RFI will be retained by NCSD and may be considered as part of additional market research and/or potential subcontracting opportunities. Please submit questions relating to the subject RFI to civendorinfo@dhs.gov.